PRO-7 gets 284 new recruits

CEBU, Philippines - Two hundred eighty four new police recruits took their oath yesterday morning before Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 Director Chief Supt. Danilo Constantino.

Of this number, 219 are male and 65 are female. They are set to complete the basic recruitment force program for six months and another six months in the field training program. The process would allow PRO-7 to determine the recruits' commitment and determination before they are appointed to permanent status.

Constantino said they would have wanted to recruit 400 policemen but only 284 of  1,036 applicants qualified.

"We will not sacrifice the quality of our police because of the quantity," Constantino said.

He said an IQ test has been added to this year's recruitment procedure.

"Every year may idadagdag na test and change some processes dahil maybe there is something wrong with the recruitment…that is why pahirap ng pahirap (Every year, we add a test or make changes in the process because maybe there is something wrong in the recruitment… this is why it gets harder and harder)," Constantino said.

Jarvin Cordeta, 28, almost quit from the recruitment process after super typhoon Yolanda destroyed their house in Samar. 

"Wa nako makontak akong ginikanan sa amua (Samar) ug duha ka adlaw dili na gyud unta ko mupadayun pero pagkahibalo nako nga okay diay sila nipasalig sila nga papadayunon ko (I could not contact my parents in Samar for two days and I would have wanted to quit but when I was able to contact them eventually, they told me that I should continue)," Cordeta said.

Cordeta's parents even pawned some of their belongings to support his financial needs during the application. As the second of five children, Cordeta promised to give back to his parents' sacrifices.

Meanwhile, identical twins Ralph Daniel and Ralph Francis, both 24, of Mandaue City being policemen has been their dream since they were young.

"Lipay kaayo ko kay nakasulod ming duha (Ralph Daniel) sa kataas sa process… magtinabangay gyud mi kay since pagkabata mao na ni among pangandoy (I'm very happy because we both made it despite the long process…we will really help each other because this has been our dream since we were young)," Ralph Francis told The FREEMAN.

After the oath taking ceremony, the recruits were taken to the Regional Training School in Consolacion town. Another batch of at least 100 recruits will take oath on December 27. — (FREEMAN)